DESCARTES Meditation 2 Getting Re-established. Biopsychology – Meditation VI.
Post on 20-Dec-2015
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THE COGITO
Cogito, ergo sum: I think, therefore I am. (169L-R)
Not an argument, but an intuitive certainty or axiom.
One’s own self as only axiom
“But what then am I? A thing that thinks. But what is that? A thing that doubts, understands, is willing, is unwilling, and also imagines and has sensory perceptions” (170R)
In modern terms,
“thinking” in Descartes’ sense = consciousness
Essence of MIND (or self)
Essence of mind (self) is thought (=consciousness) (170)
To be is to think (be conscious).
Essence vs. Accidents
Anti-Aristotelian (169R)
soul = anima = principle of motion3 grades of anima: nutritive,
locomotive, rational
Philosophical Method
Q: How is essence discovered?
A: Meditate (think carefully) about what is required in order that one exists.
In case of mind/self:
If conscious, I exist.
If not conscious, I do not exist.
Essence of MATTER
Essence of MATTER (171R):
[spatial] Extension [=“geometricality”]
To be is to occupy space.
All things of same sort have same essence, and are distinguished from each other by their accidents.
Accidents (for wax): flexible, movable, sweet, white, etc.
Philosophical Method
Q: How is essence discovered?A: Meditate (think carefully) about what
is required in order that one exists.
In case of material objects:If space is occupied (other
objects are excluded), it exists.
If not, it does not exist.
Piece of wax passage
A reflection on PHILOSOPHICAL METHOD
An argument that physical objects are not constituted or defined by their sensory appearance
Piece of wax – The argument
A change is observed:
i) time 1: wax tastes sweet, smells flowery, is white, hard, cold, sounds when struck [complete list of sensory qualities] (171R)
ii) time 2: wax tasteless, odorless, colorless, soft, hot, does not sound when struck.
Piece of wax – The argument
iii) This is nevertheless the same piece of wax.
iv) SO: the wax is not known by the senses (or imagination).
v) SO: the wax is known “by the mind alone” or “pure mental scrutiny” (172L) [or “intellection’]
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